Teen Driving ~
On March 27th, my aunt, daughter and I all traveled to the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina to attend the Drive It Home event sponsored by the AllState Foundation and the National Safety Council. The Drive It Home event is a 14 stop tour {Greenville being the first stop} that brings driver safety tips and statistics to parents to share with their teens.
DriveItHome.org – The Basics
We had no idea what to expect when we attended the Drive It Home program on teen driving, but we felt that it was important to attend. I remember what it was like to to learn how to drive and I know what it is like to try to teach a teen how to drive. It can be nerve wrecking on both ends. Any chance to gain some useful information and new methods of teaching from someone else seems like a great idea to me.
Despite the fact that nine in 10 parents say it’s very important for teens to learn to manage night driving and driving with passengers, one in three parents admit they have not adequately covered these items with their teen.
Second City And Drive It Home
The Drive It Home show was fun! I really thought it might be an informative speech {which I like} but it was a FUN and informative speech {which I like better}. Members from Second City {where Jim Belushi and other comedians got their start} hosted the program which was broken into skits. The program was entertaining and we learned some alarming statistics about teens and driving. The hosts also did role playing to help parents better learn how to communicate with their kids about driving safety. I especially loved the skit where the mom wouldn’t get off the cell phone. She kept texting while complaining about her daughter’s inability to pay attention to what was going on around her. I think that oftentimes as adults we tell children what to do without always leading by example.
I had not been to the Peace Center or Greenville previously but it is a very pretty little city. I live about 3.5 hours away and it was interesting to see how the traffic patterns and even sign placement can be different in each city. Since my daughter is a relatively new driver, this turned out to also be a learning part of the evening. Other people in the car helped navigate directions, road signs, etc., while I drove. I think that we often get too comfortable in what we know and sometimes traveling to areas outside our comfort zone is a good reminder of what our teens might feel like when driving for the first time.
Sobering Statistics On Teen Driving
South Carolina teens must log a minimum of 40 hours of driving practice before they can obtain a driver’s license.
Towards the end of the event, we heard a mother’s heartbreaking story of losing her son to a car accident. I believe that she said that her son was 19 and the person driving had just received their license a few days earlier. The part that hurt me most was when she said that the driver was going so fast that her son was ejected from the car {even though he was wearing a seatbelt} and that the motor was thrown into the woods. I can’t imagine going through something like this. It was so brave of her to share her story and I can’t imagine how many people she has helped by sharing it. Too many people think “it can’t happen to me.” It can.
Car crashes are the #1 killer of teens.
Parents can sign up at driveithome.org to receive weekly tips emailed to them to share with their teen. They can also sign a Parent-Teen Driving Agreement. I am particularly excited about this part as I always want to learn more so that I can more effectively teach my daughter to drive safely. After all, the more we know, the better equipped we are to teach.
Connect With DriveItHome.org
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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
When my daughter first started driving, I was on her you-know-what about distracted driving. This topic is a very important conversation for parents/teens.
BTW, I love Greenville. I used to live nearby 🙂
Awesome! Where abouts did you live if you don’t mind me asking. You may have been close to where I live now. 🙂
So many teens are so excited to finally hit the road, but it can be one of the most stressful times for parents to worry. Finding a way to preach safety with love is key to safe driving as a teen!
You are right. And finding a way to say it in their language so they don’t feel like you are talking down to them is key, too.
I am not looking forward to my daughter driving…..I’m lucky that I still have 9 years before this happens….
I’ve heard so much research on the dangers of teenagers driving before the age of 17. It’s scary to think how responsible they have to be!
Dreading the day, scary thoughts! Safety is so important
Terrific information. We are still 6 years away from driving, but I will be keeping information like this in mind for sure.
My daughter just turned 14 so we aren’t too far off from learning how to drive and OMG that scares the crud out of me! Great information. Bookmarked for when we need it!
Good luck to you in a few years. It’s never to early to start preparing yourself, at least mentally. 😀
I bet there wasn’t a dry eye in the place after that mom talked. How sad.
No there wasn’t. It was so sad. I hate that she had to go through that, but I really respect her courage and selflessness in wanting to share her story. I am not sure that I could have.
What great information!!! I am so afraid when my kids get older to drive!! It scares the heck out of me!
this topic is scary. My kids are only 5 and 3 but I know this time is coming way to quickly! Thanks for the post and the information. Good luck to your young driver!
Thanks a bunch!
I am so not looking forward to any of my kids becoming teenagers and having the added stress of a teenager driving. Thankfully I have 6 years to get used to the idea. Maybe by then they will make it illegal? One can hope right? lol. It’s nice that they have the resources to help Teenagers and their parents be more prepared.
Time goes by so quickly. For all of you that still have a few years, it will get here a lot faster than you ever dreamed.
Just yesterday my daughter was in diapers. 😉
My daughter is nearly 10, and I dread the day she gets in a car. I dread it in some ways, but I honestly believe that she will be a good driver.
I wish we had better public transportation here. the kids have no way of getting anywhere unless they drive – That is just wrong. I started taking a bus when I was 8. I had no desire for getting a car until I turned 20. Driving is a such a huge responsibility. Are the 16 year olds really ready for it?
We live in a small town and a lot of the people we know live way out in the country here. There isn’t much public transportation here either. I didn’t have my license until I was 20 either – I guess all we can do is teach them the best we can and hope they make good decisions.
i am so not lookinf forward to the day when i have to start worrying about my daughter driving.